WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former Republican Rep. Bob Barr will announce Monday that he will run for president as a Libertarian, a source close to the Georgian told CNN.

Barr will officially declare his candidacy at a news conference at the National Press Club in Washington. The four-term congressman left the GOP in 2006, saying that Republicans had "lost their core principles."

Barr made a name for himself in Congress for his ardent conservative philosophy and his role in President Clinton's impeachment. He lost a primary election in 2002.

Last month, Barr formed a presidential exploratory committee as he weighed a run for the White House. The source said that Barr had been considering a presidential bid "for several months. He currently runs Liberty Strategies, a consulting firm in Atlanta and Washington.

Barr joins a handful of other candidates seeking the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination including former Alaska Sen. Mike Gravel, who unsuccessfully sought the Democratic presidential nomination this year. Libertarians meet in Denver on May 22 for a four day convention where members will choose the party's presidential nominee.

soundoff(141 Responses)

GUESS WHAT BARR YOU JUST GOT THIS DEMOCRATIC VOTE. I WILL IN NO WAY VOTE FOR OBAMA. HE AND HIS SUPPORTERS ARE BIAS AND HATEFUL.

GOODBYE OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

May 8, 2008 01:18 pm at 1:18 pm |

Darth Vadik, CA

Actually Barr is one of the OK Republicans, well he was, he had enough sense to leave that wretched party when they lost their minds.

Maybe he is running because he doesnt want McCain to win.

Bob Barr/Borat '08

May 8, 2008 01:19 pm at 1:19 pm |

Bayou Joe

They need to put a (Non of the above) option on the Ballot for November. I wonder how many States will actually put his name on the ballot. Or is he running a write in campaign.

May 8, 2008 01:19 pm at 1:19 pm |

Ernest

I am very surprised with this country trying to take out Hilary Clintion, as the race is not over.

How can this country, not see beyond the vivid picture which Obama has shown this country, as to what he truly is and the change he is really talking about. He is a politician not to trust.

I voted for him, but definitely will not support the democratic party if he is elected, I prefer someone who love this country, and will be more clear as to what change he will make in this country.

May 8, 2008 01:20 pm at 1:20 pm |

Darth Vadik, CA

Libretarianism ONLY works in societies with 100 people or less, it is impratical for bigger societies, but some people will never get it so...

...whatever

May 8, 2008 01:20 pm at 1:20 pm |

Rich

What exactly do conservatives contribute again?

May 8, 2008 01:21 pm at 1:21 pm |

John, Washington DC

I think one must be certifiably insane to actually believe one (Libertarian, Green, etc) could win the Presidential election over the REP/DEM candidates.

It's purely for show, ego, and tax write-offs.

May 8, 2008 01:22 pm at 1:22 pm |

FEDUP

Hillary don't you know, only Obama can say white voters and get away with it? Now you will be labled a racist. Only the media and Obama can split us up into groups

May 8, 2008 01:22 pm at 1:22 pm |

Scott

Why do people in ATL keep voting for this fool. I've known many people in Georgia and none of them are as crazy as this Tool.

May 8, 2008 01:22 pm at 1:22 pm |

YesWeCan

RON PAUL AS V.P. !!!

May 8, 2008 01:22 pm at 1:22 pm |

Clueless peole

LOL – desperate democrats. .. applauding Bob Barr who helped impeach Clinton.... all while Hillary talks about the white people Barack will never win!

McCain is going to be a wonderful President!!

May 8, 2008 01:22 pm at 1:22 pm |

An American in Canada

There certainly should be a third party and lets say their name is the The American Independent Party , then they would need a strong platform to encourage Americans to vote for them,

They should start right after the General Election to put in place cnadidates to start running for the senate and for the congress. You have four years to build your party and introduce yourselves and your platform to the American Citizens.

To jump into a general election just for the sake fo a little mix up is in my opinion unproductive for America which has too many issues on its' plate right now...

So, organize, get new members to sign up, recruit well know people to come into the fold and build and build and if your platform has merit then the expression: "BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME" is appropiate.

May 8, 2008 01:23 pm at 1:23 pm |

Andrew

White Americans aren't bolting away from Obama. I'm white, I'm an American, and I've been firmly behind Obama since the onset of his candidacy. There's a large group of whites who feel just as I do.

She's padding her count with over-65's and women. These two would naturally vote for Hillary, due to her representing a *real* female candidate and a less "radical" candidate in the minds of senior citizens. There's also the Limbaugh Republicans to take in to account. Democrats will get behind Obama, white Democrats.

May 8, 2008 01:23 pm at 1:23 pm |

Tom, St. Paul

This guy is supposed to be a LIBERTARIAN?? Take a look at his bio and record, especially regarding drugs and abortion. He claims the Repubs have lost their core values. Well, so have the Libertarians if they run this guy! He also has a major problem with hippocracy (no surprise there)...

May 8, 2008 01:23 pm at 1:23 pm |

The Truth

Don't quit Hillary. Or I will go to the McLame ticket.

You are the best and most electable. Obama is a streak of light ready to burn out at the first national problem. He is the poster boy for the conscientious objectors of this great nation of ours.

May 8, 2008 01:24 pm at 1:24 pm |

georgia

Why Not !!!
Go Bob, GO !!

May 8, 2008 01:24 pm at 1:24 pm |

D Taliga

Another one,just miss lead the America pepole

May 8, 2008 01:25 pm at 1:25 pm |

HillarySkank on myspace

I'm sorry, who's on first?

May 8, 2008 01:27 pm at 1:27 pm |

Dan

Would a certain whipped-cream wearing stripper from the honorable B. Barr's past be available by any chance? I hear Libertarians love that sort of thing.

May 8, 2008 01:29 pm at 1:29 pm |

Kris In Atlanta

I'm very surprised the Republicans did not come up with a plan to divert Barr from running. A more conservaqtive mesage is sure to snatch votes from McCain, as evidenced by a quarter of voters in North Carolina and Indiana voting against him-a couple months after his last opponent dropped out. Personally, I'm voting for Obama because I am not going to allow the press to cast my ballot for me. I think he's decent and caring. And I also believe McCain has had 25 years as an insider to change things for the better. He has chosen to not do so. He does not deserve my vote.

Obama '08

May 8, 2008 01:30 pm at 1:30 pm |

Charlotte

Wow, the more the merrier. With a hundred candidates for Governor in California, we got Arnold with only 15% of the vote.

May 8, 2008 01:31 pm at 1:31 pm |

Speak Up

CNN! You should be ashamed!

Post some real news!

Make room and publish all the good things about Obama!

May 8, 2008 01:32 pm at 1:32 pm |

Charlotte

Hillary don't you know, only Obama can say white voters and get away with it? Now you will be labled a racist. Only the media and Obama can split us up into groups? Write in Hillary in the general election!!!!!

May 8, 2008 01:35 pm at 1:35 pm |

Kristina

To you people who are saying 90% of the black vote is for Obama....you are not taking into consideration that the votes are not even proportional to each other. Just for the sake of explaining this, let's say 500 blacks came out to vote and ninety percent of those blacks voted for Obama, 10% for Hillary. 2,000 whites came out to vote and Hillary had the majority of their votes. You will hear that 60% voted Hillary and 40% Obama. The numbers are not even proportional to each other ; 500 is a long way from 2,000. Perhaps if it was equal playing ground 2,000 blacks and 2,000 whites or 500 blacks and 500 whites, you could make a better argument. Think logically people.